The Braves will be without their two best receivers for today’s opener, manager Brian Snitker announced to reporters (Twitter link via David O’Brien of The Athletic). Both of them Travis d’Arnaud and Tyler Flowers They are exhibiting symptoms of Covid-19, and although both have been negative, they are back in Atlanta instead of being in the New York club. Alex Jackson, who was in the team’s taxi squad, will receive the initial wink behind the plate. Receiver William Contreras, also on the 40-man roster and in the 60-man player pool, will likely appear as backup.
It’s a sudden depletion of the Braves’ depth of catch and a stark reminder of how fast a club’s depth can be compromised in a bizarre 2020 season. Jackson will unexpectedly take on an early role at least today, the timeline for return. de d’Arnaud and Flowers is still unknown, despite having only four MLB games to his credit. The former No. 6 overall draft pick has a lot of power, but she’s also had long-standing issues with making contact (career strikeout rate of 30 percent in minors, 34 percent in Triple-A). His defense has also been an ongoing question that has resulted in Jackson sometimes being seen in the corner field.
Contreras, the younger brother of Cubs star Willson Contreras, has never appeared in a Triple-A game, let alone in the big leagues. It’s a well-regarded catch prospect, but its production of .255 / .315 / .354 on the plate between Advanced Class-A and Double-A in 2019 was a notable step back from .285 / .347 / .436 in 2018. .
Both d’Arnaud and Flowers will be technically located on the Covid-19 IL as a means of facilitating the promotion of Jackson and Contreras. However, unlike other casualty lists, there is no minimum stay on the Covid-19 IL. It remains to be seen when d’Arnaud and Flowers will be authorized to return, although the hope is that the symptoms of both receptors will disappear in a short time.
